Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-01-05
THE GOVERNORS hEssAGE.

THE GOSEBnOhb mEsoA0E.
Governor stookIsy's Last Biennial Mes.
ssge--ststs Debt and gtnsnoes-Cou.
stitutionai Ameudmsnts-Tartn Re-
vision and Temperance,
Governor gsockisy In his hast bisn
NAL message, like President Cleveland,
makes long one. He opens up with
y congratulation 10 the people on the
healthy growth and Improvement OF
the State. He 10 especially happy over
the improvement Of the school system
through the mupifcent State endow-
ment and urges that no back ward steps
be taken. He has also y kind word for
the colored citizsDs, who, he says,
under the bounty Of the State arc &C.
QuifinR homes for themselves and edu-
cat on for their children.
Passing on from his general review
he announces that owing to the liberal
appropriations for schools, the State
debt las only betn reduced $4,000
without any propostionste increase In
tie revenue.
He states that 81 90, 900 Of the States
indebtedness has been refunded in
DER cent. bonds, Edward Morrison, OF
New York, taking the loan At $i.05.03.
The debt Of the State, he says, Ia
1924, 75O, which is Offset by investments "a
amounting TO 81, 1853. 700. To this amount
the Governor says should be added
prospective receipts up TO January lst
Sb7, ,796 81; oyster revenue sinking fund,
81, ,S29.79, and balance in treasury,
81, s77 SO, making the total State credits
81, $40, ,202 96. and leaving the true
amount OF assets In favor OF the State,
S415, 452 96.
The report of the State Treasurer
|, ,howed . balance in the treasury
January LIST, 1885. 0,8l5.49; re
ceipts since then to January 1st.
1887, Sl21, 1861; probable receipts
due and pay able same date, e57, 100. 81
total, Sls6. S02 Al. Expenditures-total
amount paid out TO January, 1887, ia
81 q. .02s "A, leaving \ probable balance
OF S66,774.l7. The total receipts for the
school fund were SOL, 027 81; the ex.
pendltures wore $32, ,368 20 to New
Castle; S23. 1855 to Kent County, aud
SIS, 1893 30 70 Sussex County. There Wa
also paid out to the Pennsylvsnia Insti
tuition for the blind for New Castle
Comfy, Sl,040; total disbursements
Ss4 7e0.96. Balance in treasury, e18,
236.63.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Leaving finances the Governor pro
cesdsd 70 the consideration OF consul u
tional reform. He says IL was Of tn,
fret Importance to inquire whether tn,
dsfeoss In the organic law of the Stat
are Of such character - to justify tn,
calling Of . convention. Most o! thu
provisions OF the present constitution
which have been tested by the xperi
ence OF over half o century, meet with
wo believe, general approval, yet 1t Ii
undeniable that there In great and
growing feeling that some changes Ano
reforms should be made.
/ Amendments, commensurate with tb,
demands of the psople, have from tim,
TO time been Incorporated In our organic
law. Popular demand for reform Atior
should, at all times, be needed, and Ia
accom- plishme ent assisted. Reforms, Il
be safe. should be gradual, and ough
not TO be made too difficult, avoio IL 4
all strains.
Amendments by the Legislature hav,
great advantages, securing careful do
liberation before changing an establish
ed law In It's separate wants, and with
Iout log rolling. And, even IL IL b,
u-gtd that many reforms are demsn6 cd
ano required to meet the changed con
dition OF affairs, still, 10 IL not better Il
have few notifications at . time pre-
sentd for the consideration OF the peo
pie In view Of the permanent law to b.
established?
Article six of the constitution Of the
State provides that "the General A.
semb bly,, whenever two thirds OF zach
house shall deem 1t necessary, may
with the appreciation of tho Governor,
propose amendments to this consti,u
tion, md At least three and not more
than six months before the next gene RAJ
election Of Representatives, duly pub
lish them In print for the consideration
Of the people; and II three.fourths oi
each branch Of the Legislature shall
after gu h an election and before another
ratify the said amendments, they shai
be valid 10 all intents and purposes al
parts OF this constitution.
Now l would suggest that II the RAJ,
required for ratification was changed Il
| two thirds instead OF nthree-fourtha, O
each branch of the legislature, 1t woult
enable Ieforms TO be more easily At
tanned, and you would still preserve thu
wholesoms checks on ill.advised ant
hasty changes.
L IO DbitCI VI tub thDIhE
6csDility OF attempting amendments L
our State constitution, by making
three iourths OF the succsedipR leXislP
tura requisite for a change, could b.
cited than MAS given In the result twl
years ago, when q single voto defeatet
Ia general public eeDtiment and bIok,
tht Piled go OF party honestly given.
A two thirds majority is ample, ea
pecially when two Legislatures are re-
quiIed to . piss upon the amendment.
IL IL doubtless true that many OF tn
advocates prominent and thonghtfu
tizsns--fur q State convention, con
template only few changes; but
honestly believe that convention, a
this time, amid the many dangerou
Questions floating In the public mind
all pressing for attention, would, wher
ouce the way was opened, expose ou
little State to great dangers.
Il Referring to the question OF repre-
sentstion in tho General Assembly tn,
lGovernor says:
/ trust In your wisdom you will b,
able to propose an amendment in thil
Important particular satisfactory Il
the people. The same demand exist,
now AZ In the past, and l AN % tis
fed Is increasing. for n change In tn,
present 81 stem OF representation. Delay
In this matter cannot be long deferred
Then why not act at the prefent, wheI
tho whole question can he fully and
fairly conside cred, free from party ex
citement, and for the bests interests o
all.
In relation to reform In the Judi
ciary he only ssys: The reform in tn,
Judiciary system of the State should
be thoroughly considered, aud, withou
sugResting the changes deem It safest
as stated in my inaugural address, that
lyou take counsel from tbs legal miudl
Of the State. who will prove necessar,